The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-01-01

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, July II, 1SS-.
my DEAR DICK: l have just come from
| the RAYMOND residence, where Claudio lie.
very i'll. 1t seems that some one had OBJ
tanned a letter Of your fathers, written by
| bis wife while in Washington, and has for
I warded it, together with newspaper con-
/ tanning g notice of his recent marriage
| claiming that you were the one the lettel
| belonged to, and that You were a married
man. | have not been informed concern
| ing any relations ex sting between yourself
and Miss Raymond. but this l know: She
received the letter and the paper this after
noon, and the shock was more than she
could stand.
IF you care for the young lady, come al
once and vindicate yourself. In haste, YOU
old friend, JAMES tEArHERLY."
"Dick," said Tom, between his clenched
eeth, this is the work OF that villain Sharp.
You will go, suppose, at once.
Yes" he answered. springing up, Il
must go, and may the Lord have mercy OF
that scoundrel if | ever meet him again."
"Oh. can see it all now," he continued
excitedly. Il met him but day or two
ago, and when / spoke to him of having
lost letter near the mill / wondered at his
confusion. The wretch. He shall pay fol
this. All, Toni" a tender light coming in
his eyes, my love for her is not in vain
She cares for me- God bless herr" and
overcome by t csc conflicting emotions the
noble, tender hearted fellow bowed his
head upon the desk and wept.
Toms voice was a trihe husky as be
placed lis hand on his friends shoulder
and said:
"Yes, Dick, she loves you, and imagine
the embarrassing position that modest little
Il l.
folks know that she loves man unasked
Go TO her, Dick. my boy, at once, and tell
her how you have loved her.
Il will, he answers, rising. Tom, will
You call q carriage, and l will go TO the
house and prepare to leave at once?"
Speedily they are driven home, and as he
is busy packing his yalise he explains MS
well as possible to his father the cause OF
his sudden departure.
DO you love her. Dick?" his father asks,
CHANGING keenly at him.
Better than the world, father!n Dick an
swers, meeting his fathers eyes honestly.
Then go, my boy" he said, pressing his
hand. You could not honorably do other
wise"
And SO Dick is soon speeding away tow
ard the east. Oh, how slow the train goes.
He never realized before how slow they
travelled.
1t is early morning when the train pulls
into ladelphia, and scarcely has it come
to a stop ere he springs from the steps, and
is giving directions to hackman TO be
driven in haste to the Office OF his old friend
DIR. Featherly.
Dr. Featherly has not arrived at his office
yet, so the otfice-boy informs him, and inn
patiently Dick PAGES up and down the little
lv
Precisely at eight the doctor arrives, and
splinging forward Dick grasps his hand.
The anxiety of the last twenty-four hours,
| together with his journey, has told on him.
| He looks haggard and pale' Scarcely wait
ing till the greeting Is over, he asks:
| How is she, Doctor? Is she better? Can
see herr"
| Motioning him to a seat, and dropping
into a comfortable one himself, the Doctor
looks intently at him, noticing his haggard
look, and rep les;
Calm yourself, Dick; she is not dan
gerously Ill, though far from being well.
l am afraid it will be several days before
| you can see her. l called there this morn
ing, but cannot say yet whether the disease
NAV be warded off or not.
What is that, Doctor"
brain fever"
The pallor of Dicks face deepens
slightly.
Have you any idea who sent that letter,
| Dick" asks the Doctor, after moments
silence.
Yes, 1 feel confident it was mar
by the name of Sharp-an overseer in q
mill of Mr.. Raymond's, down in the viii
derness."
"But how came he in possession of it?'
~, l.. Il
were staying with Mr. Raymond, at his
i cottage down in the woods, faith sent me
a letter inclosing one that he had rec "
from my stepmother while she was visiting
in Washington. | lost it, but did not dis
cover my loss until | had LETT the mill
I This man must have found it, and con-
cluded to ruin me, if possible, in her esti-
nation"
"Ah, huml Very likely" said the Doc.
tor.
"Do-do they think, do they believe tina
mans story" asked DICK, hesitatlngly.
No; l made it all right as soon as
found ont about it."
Thank You, sir" grasping his hand
with a sigh of retief. And Claudie?"
"She, poor girl, is not in condition t.
understand at present. And now, Dick
We viii 60 to my boarding. house, where
Then YOU had better send Raymond a note
and ask him if you may call.
Thank you again, Doctor. l will do so.
Leaving some directions with the boy
the Doctor and Dick started out to. ether
This genial Old Doctor had for years evadeC
the many snares la d by the fingers of til,
far sex, and was living III comfortable
solitude at a large and rather eXpenslv,
boarding house near Uy. His secrets, /
he had any, regarding his past life were
well kept.
You live we'll, Doctor" Dick remarked
as he was ushered into his spacious apart.
ments.
"To work we'll, one must live WE'LL, the
Doctor observed, sententiously.
After bath and substantial breakfast
physically Dick felt better, although b,
ate but little in comparison with the Doc.
tors enormous appetite: then sitting dow
at desk he wrote a note and dispatched
boy with 1t, with instructions to return will
an answer as speedily as possible.
In a short time. although it seemed al
age to him, the answer came, and his fac;
lighted up as he read Mr.. Raymonds re.
ply.
And now, that the time came for him t
again be near her he trembled slightly. but
mastering his agitation he set forth. He
had heard his father say that Raymond
must be very wealthy, but he was entirel,
unprepared for the splendor of the place
The mastif, Bruce, advanced In threat
ening manner, but recognizing an old ac
quaintance, evinced his delight by wagging
his tail and rubbing his muzzled nos
against Dicks hand.
1t was her favorite dumb pet, and b,
could not help stopping for a moment t.
caress him, and the great brute whineC
mournfully as if he knew the sorrow of tn,
house.
Had Dick been doubtful of the reception
he would receive at the house of Mr.. Ray
mond, his doubts We're soon dispelled, 70
hardly had he stepped on the veranda err
the door swung open and Raymond, though
looking somewhat worn and sad, met him
and pressing his hand warmly, led The
way into the house. Dick scarcely knev
what to say when they were seated alone II
the drawing room. He was deeply moved
at seeing the worn look on Raymonds face
He tried to speak, to ask after Claudie, bu
the power of speech seemed to have lef
him.
81 suppose Featherly has informed yor
of all that has happened, Dick?" Raymond
said at last. SOmeN hat ulouruful1v